McGill's Scotland East (Midland Bluebird and Eastern Scottish)

[stevenedin]

Saw the new liveried Enviro 400 in Livingston this morning and thought it looked good. (Photo below)View attachment 134683

Looks great. Also 7900 in front on driver training duties by the looks of it.

 

[delt1c]

Looks great. Also 7900 in front on driver training duties by the looks of it.Yep on driver training

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 8 May 2023 ==

Another shot of both

 

[stevenedin]

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 8 May 2023 ==

Another shot of bothView attachment 134684

Thanks for the photo. Looks great. I have also quoted your message in the Lothian Group thread for discussion about the Lothian bus.

Nice to see white screens on the new Eastern Scottish buses.

 

[delt1c]

Thanks for the photo. Looks great. I have also quoted your message in the Lothian Group thread for discussion about the Lothian bus.

Nice to see white screens on the new Eastern Scottish buses.

Feel free to share

 

[XAM2175]

YX62 BCK in the new Eastern Scottish livery.

Looks pretty decent actually, but all that "making connections" and "easy ways to pay for your bus travel" bollocks around the desto really is insipid.

 

[stevenedin]

Looks pretty decent actually, but all that "making connections" and "easy ways to pay for your bus travel" bollocks around the desto really is insipid.

I have to agree about the “making connections” part but the contactless is handy to know.

 

[PaulMc7]

No cancellations today on McGills routes according to website, if this is correct and it can be continued then it has to be viewed as making the correct business decision especially in West Lothian. It will be up to others to solve the conundrum of Sunday,early morning and evening services for the travelling public and that for McGills staff will be a huge relief to not carry the can for others failures in providing services.

If enough people use the buses now then frequencies could increase eventually if circumstances allow for that. The weirdest complaint I've seen is that it was the 21 extended to Blackridge and not the 25 even on an hourly basis but I explained to them about the fact it's probably the best fit timetablewise.

The 21 still has 25 minutes layover time at Blackridge which is very generous for the current climate but if it was done with the 25 it would need to be more than that to fit in an every 30 minute service at Armadale due to the fact Blackridge isn't far enough away from Armadale to have more balance in the timetable.

 

[computerSaysNo]

How does the staffing work for the new Flixbus services from Livingston depot? Do existing drivers get their work split between local (Eastern Scottish) and Flixbus work? Or do existing drivers apply or get selected for Flixbus and then work exclusively Flixbus? Or a different arrangement?

 

[Observer]

How does the staffing work for the new Flixbus services from Livingston depot? Do existing drivers get their work split between local (Eastern Scottish) and Flixbus work? Or do existing drivers apply or get selected for Flixbus and then work exclusively Flixbus? Or a different arrangement?

Different drivers are hired for Flixbus. Also if I remember right the coaches are put on the Loch Lomond Bus Services license that recently had Livingston added to it as an operating centre (the former McColl's license they bought).

https://www.vehicle-operator-licensing.service.gov.uk/view-details/licence/284887

BUS STATION, DEANS ROAD, DEANS, LIVINGSTON, EH54 8JY, GB - 10 vehicles 0 trailers

 

[Trnsprt4Sctlnd]

Saw the new liveried Enviro 400 in Livingston this morning and thought it looked good. (Photo below)View attachment 134683

I think it’s funny they need to write “McGills” alongside the “Eastern Scottish” namesake..

Other than that I feel the new livery is even more anonymous than before!

 

[delt1c]

I think it’s funny they need to write “McGills” alongside the “Eastern Scottish” namesake..

Other than that I feel the new livery is even more anonymous than before!

Don't have a problem with that, living and travelling in the area i believe it will give the local community something to feel their own , not a corporate identity like so many other operators

 

[Trnsprt4Sctlnd]

Don't have a problem with that, living and travelling in the area i believe it will give the local community something to feel their own , not a corporate identity like so many other operators

Hence why I mention the oddity of writing “McGills” on the side, not Eastern Scottish.

Eastern Scottish is a name all of its own that only the older people living in the area will remember.

 

[delt1c]

Hence why I mention the oddity of writing “McGills” on the side, not Eastern Scottish.

Eastern Scottish is a name all of its own that only the older people living in the area will remember.

Understand , but Mc Gills will want to put their name on it for their investment. Just like the big boys include there name on vehicles either as a prefix or suffix

 

[OptareLover]

I think all of McGill's (McGill's/McGill's Scotland East/Xplore Dundee) have very nice liveries, including this one!

 

[Jordan Adam]

Understand , but Mc Gills will want to put their name on it for their investment. Just like the big boys include there name on vehicles either as a prefix or suffix

Indeed, i'm not exactly sure what's so strange about it. All the large operators that use local identities usually still have the group name listed somewhere on the vehicle.

 

[LothianBusesPh]

I know I'm being a bit picky now they've changed the livery, but those colours are awful. The colours on the Eastern Scottish ones particularly but the Midland Bluebird ones could be tweaked as well.

 

[overthewater]

Has anyone spotted any new Eastern Scottish Timetables? Also What is the record for the number of different liverys on one route in single day?

 

[delt1c]

Has anyone spotted any new Eastern Scottish Timetables? Also What is the record for the number of different liverys on one route in single day?

There are new timetables on stops in Stoneyburn.

 

[PaulMc7]

Moira Horne

Excellent work/information Diane. Thank you for this.

www.facebook.com

This is a post from a group that was set up on Facebook just as the changes were announced for West Lothian. I find this really interesting because it's a bit of an insight into a working condition that I've never known any other bus company to have with drivers having to pay an excess if at fault for an accident. I could see why that would be off-putting for anyone wanting to drive buses although the counter to it is literally just to be sensible when driving. The other interesting thing is the pressure McGill's have put on themselves regarding reimbursing passengers for failed journeys. It's actually a lot better than I imagined they'd be given that customer service really isn't their strong point.

Ok folks, on the day of the protest, one of the McGills reps handed me his email address, and I have contacted him regarding a few matters, he has answered my queries..........
My 1st question was " is it true that drivers must pay excess of insurance should sais drivers bus be involved in an accident "
answer: "all sign an insurance bond of £350 which is payable if involved in a blameworthy accident. This operates in exactly the same way which would happen if you had a blameworthy accident in your own vehicle. I must point out that the money can be paid back over a period of agreed time eg a set amount each week and there is an appeals process in place if the employee feels that the decision is not correct. The reason for having such a system in place is due to the fact insurance for bus companies is incredibly expensive and we try and prevent these additional costs from being passed onto our customers through increased fares."
When I asked this question at the protest I was told this was NOT true !!
My next question was regarding those who are paying out for taxis due to buses not turning up and the costs to the public for this.
answer : " In response to taxi fares, I can give a commitment from today that if one of our services fails and when it is investigated, it is found to be our fault that a service has not operated (such as for a breakdown or no driver) then we will look at the individual circumstances eg having to attend an important hospital appointment and providing a valid taxi receipt with date, time and journey is provided, to reimburse that person. In other bus companies that I have managed, that has been standard practice although, I hope that the new changes coming in today will mean a much more reliable service for the people of West Lothian and the need for this will be substantially less. "
Make sure you get a receipt from the taxi driver !!

 

[Observer]

The excess has been a McGill's policy for quite a long time, this isn't new and when drivers found out they were being bought from First it was one of the first things that had come up from the few drivers I managed to talk to about it.

 

[Trnsprt4Sctlnd]

The excess has been a McGill's policy for quite a long time, this isn't new and when drivers found out they were being bought from First it was one of the first things that had come up from the few drivers I managed to talk to about it.

McGills also don’t offer inclusive CPC training as part of their employment.

 

[overthewater]

Moira Horne

Excellent work/information Diane. Thank you for this.

www.facebook.com

This is a post from a group that was set up on Facebook just as the changes were announced for West Lothian. I find this really interesting because it's a bit of an insight into a working condition that I've never known any other bus company to have with drivers having to pay an excess if at fault for an accident. I could see why that would be off-putting for anyone wanting to drive buses although the counter to it is literally just to be sensible when driving. The other interesting thing is the pressure McGill's have put on themselves regarding reimbursing passengers for failed journeys. It's actually a lot better than I imagined they'd be given that customer service really isn't their strong point.

Has anyone else notice these people have not complained about Lothian cutting? The group was only started on the 14th April and since that point they seem to not understand basic information. Just because Larbart depot has all the drivers to cover its duties doesn't mean they can be sent down to Livingston, i doubt the driver know the routes and they can always say no. some of the other comments are just weird, I'm not so sure local councillors and msp can force them to put on additional journeys. How can Mcgill hire coach drivers in to drive for Flixbus, well there two different types of jobs.

Livingston Depot has been here before, they had all of Craigshill complaining about the lack of a direct bus to Edinburgh so the X23 was sent via Craigshill once an hour.

The basic principle of their unhappiness is understandable and they should fight for better links , I say good luck. It's still clear alot of people still don't know in's and out of bus operations, maybe if they did we might get more political help.

 

[PaulMc7]

Has anyone else notice these people have not complained about Lothian cutting? The group was only started on the 14th April and since that point they seem to not understand basic information. Just because Larbart depot has all the drivers to cover its duties doesn't mean they can be sent down to Livingston, i doubt the driver know the routes and they can always say no. some of the other comments are just weird, I'm not so sure local councillors and msp can force them to put on additional journeys.

Livingston Depot has been here before, they had all of Craigshill complaining about the lack of a direct bus to Edinburgh so the X23 was sent via Craigshill once an house.

I've raised that point about Lothian making cuts to some of the members in the group and it's fallen on deaf ears. I'd also argue that Lothian's cuts in recent times are just as harsh as what McGill's have had to do too and Lothian also did it before the funding cut was announced.

From what I've seen on the app today, the 23 has been the bus showing as busy the most but obviously apps aren't always accurate. It'll be interesting to see how things go in the coming weeks though but it's firmly on the people to use the buses now if they ever want more to run in the future if circumstances allow for that.

 

[Stan Drews]

McGills also don’t offer inclusive CPC training as part of their employment.

Sorry, I’m not sure what you mean by inclusive?
They arrange them at their own premises for their own staff, but isn’t that what most of the larger operators do?

 

[mb88]

Sorry, I’m not sure what you mean by inclusive?
They arrange them at their own premises for their own staff, but isn’t that what most of the larger operators do?

Drivers are required to do CPC on their day off rather than being stood down from their shift to do it.

 

[InOban]

I saw a very smart-looking Midland decker on the X10 at Callander about 4 this afternoon. Classy livery I thought.

 

[AndrewTaylor95]

I saw a very smart-looking Midland decker on the X10 at Callander about 4 this afternoon. Classy livery I thought.

It wouldn't have been an X10 you saw in Callander; only the 59 service goes there and the M4 School Service.

 

[InOban]

Then the driver hadn't set the rear display correctly. (I only saw the rear as I passed )

 

[delt1c]

I saw bus 8481 this in Livingston today on the 26 (Pictured below)

 

[GusB]

Just a quick reminder that when including any photos or images in your posts, you should provide a description of the image; it makes your post more accessible for those who cannot actually see the image.

Also, please ensure that the size of your image is appropriate as not everyone has super fast internet connections. The full size picture can be viewed by clicking on the thumbnail.